Heel and hose protector



May 5, 1936. c. J. FRICKER HEEL AND HOSE PROTECTOR Filed July 14, 1952 lllll'll Patented May 5, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,039,954 HEEL AND HOSE PROTECTOR Application July 14, 1932, Serial No. 622,522

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in heel and hose protectors, one object of the present invention being the provision of an attachment to be easily and quickly placed upon and around the heel of a shoe by the wearer when desired, and which attachment carries bodily and preferably integrally a flexible flap or shield capable of assuming and normally holding one of two positions, that is, extended when acting as a splash preventing shield, or close to and adjacent the exterior of the heel of the shoe.

This application is in part a continuation of my application filed June 15, 1928, Serial No. 285,570, now Patent No. 1,895,598, issued January 31, 1933, wherein is described and illustrated a detachable shield that could when not in use be carried in the pocket book of the wearer, and which being preferably made of rubber or rubber composition is readily made into shape and so formed as to easily and quickly assume the desired position upon the heel of the shoe.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the shield or protector per se.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a ladies slipper with the shield in place dotted lines indicating the splash preventing member against the heel of the shoe.

Figure 3 is a cross section through the body of 30 the shield to indicate clearly the bending line of the same, and

Figure 4 is a plan view of the blank forming the main body of the shield showing the depression for the bend.

Figure 5 is a rear plan view of the shield per se.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral II) denotes the shield or protector, which has a substantially crescent shaped portion ll of pliable or flexible material, which may be soft rubber, or 40 rubberized fabric. Formed in the shield longitudinally thereof and extending from one end of the lower curved edge of the portion I! to the other is a rib or raised portion H, which may have a groove on the inside.

It will be noted that the rib II is so formed during the molding or casting of the protector that the material at this portion in vertical cross-section is thickened, and it may or may not be grooved. The formation of this rib ll provides a hinging or bending line at the upper edge of the rib so that when the flap is moved from the full to dotted line position of Fig. 3 the flap will assume and be automatically held in either position as shown. The advantage of making the thickened portion or rib I I is therefore clearly apparent, for as it provides a thicker portion at this 5 point, the junction between its'upper edge and the base line of the flap is in reality a hinging point for the flap. Normally when the portion i4 fits upon the heel of the slipper, the parts assume the full line position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, but when the portion I1 is pulled outwardly and downwardly the flap will bend or hinge at its juncture with the upper edge of the rib II to assume and itself be held in the dotted line position, that is in an inverted scoop shape. When pushed upwardly it will snap into full line position and stay in such position. If there were no rib ll provided, the flap would when pulled outwardly and downwardly, snap or fit closely upon the exterior of the portion l4, and not assume the dotted line position. In order that the flap may be properly supported in place the heel encircling portion [4 is formed integral therewith, and this is further provided with the reinforcing ribs 2| and the intervening portions 22, that permit the portion I4 to be more easily slipped over and be held snugly upon the heel.

. It will thus be seen that when this shield is extended that any mud tending to be lifted and thrown upwardly by the heel when walking will strike against the underside of flap and thus will be prevented from soiling the hose or the heel of the slipper; and also that by making the device with the elastic, that it is readily attached or detached when and as desired.

What is claimed, is:-

1. A protector of this type, including an elastic heel encircling member, a substantially crescent shaped flap integral with and projecting from and substantially in line with a portion of the upper 49 edge thereof, said flap being provided with means at the junction of the member and flap which when the flap is bent outwardly of the member will cause the flap to assume an inverted scoop shape. 45

2. A protector as claimed in claim 1, in which the means at the juncture of the member and flap consists of a thickened rib formed integral with the member and flap and tapering from its central portion in opposite directions to its ends.

CARL JOHN FRICKER. 

